Liquid dispensing and measuring valve for liquid containers



United States Patent LIQUID DISPENSNG AND MEASURING VALVE FOR LlQUIDCNTANERS James U. Stewart, Whittier, and Rex C. Cooprider, Downey,Calif.

Application November 14, 1955, Serial No. 546,644

Claims. (Cl. 222-453) This invention relates to a liquid dispensing andmeasuring valve for liquid containers, and more particularly to such avalve which, though capable of more general use, is especially adaptedfor application within the pouring spouts of existing types ofcontainers.

In at least one such container now in use the pouring spout thereof isof tubular construction and has a closure cap removably applied over itsopen end.

In its preferred form the valve of the invention is adapted for snugreception in such a pouring spout and is provided with an annular flangewhich overlies the mouth of the spout and functions both as a sealingange or gasket for engagement with the closure cap and as a positioningmeans for the valve.

A valve element within said valve is normally spring projectedoutwardly, but is retractible within the casing to permit sealingengagement of the flange with the cap. However, upon removal of the cap,which may function as a shipping seal for the container, said valve isantomatically projected outwardly to seal the container against spillageof its contents or against ingress of air which might evaporate and/ orcoagulate the container contents.

The valve of the invention is of simplied construction, including avalve assembly movable through the valve casing, and with valve elementshaving guide lingers or means projecting into the valve casing andguiding them for alternate movement into sealing or closing relationwith the opposite ends of the valve casing. An irnportant and novelfeature of the valve consists in utilizing the valve actuating spring toarrest the movement of one of said valve elements when same ispositioned in `proper sealing relation within the casing and, moreparticularly to so arrest the movement of the valve assembly before theguide fingers of the other valve element are withdrawn from the casing.

ln accordance with a further feature of the invention, the assembly ofsuch a valve is simplified and facilitated by forming same of a minimumnumber of parts, namely a pair of valve elements respectively formedwith complementary valve stem sections or segments, whereby saidsegments may be assembled through opposite ends of the valve casing, thevalve spring being positioned on one of said segments, and the segmentsthen being rigidly interconnected in telescoping relation.

Further features and advantages will be apparent from the followingdetailed description, considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation, partly in section, of the upper endportion of a container having the invention applied thereto; Y

Figure 2 is an enlarged diametrical cross section through the containeror" Figure l, showing the manner in which the valve of the inventioncooperates with the sealing cap to conline the contents of the containeragainst escape, the container being partially inverted;

Figure 3 is a view generally similar to Figure 2, but Ywith the sealingcap removed and the valve in a different operative position, thecontainer being in an upright position;

Figures 4 and 5, respectively, are cross-sectional views on the lines4-4 and 5-5 of Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is a perspective View, partly in section, of the valve casingor cylinder.

Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings, the referencecharacter v10 designates a conventional can or container such as isemployed for dispensing liquid detergents and the like, Formed centrallyin the domed top 11 of the container 10 is a dispensing aperture inwhich is secured, by conventional methods, a metal pouring spout 12.Adjacent its open upper end, spout 12 is formed with an annularradially/inwardly projecting beading or rib 13. As conventionally usedprior to our invention, the said beading 13 was for the purpose ofsubstantially drip-prooiing spout 12, and the annular upper edge of thespout was adapted for sealing contact with the resilient liner disc 14of a cap 15 which was threaded on the spout 12 as at 16.

Our invention, the preferred embodiment of which is adapted for use incombination with such a spout 12, comprises an open ended tubular valvecasing 17, preferably of cylindrical form adapted to Vbepress fitted inthe upwardly opening spout 12. The cylinder or casing 17 is preferablyof somewhat resilient plastic material, and may be provided with radialexternal projections 27 adapted to be pressed through the smallestdiameter portion of beading 1K5, and thereafter -to expand beneath thebeading and prevent withdrawal of the casing 17 as shown in YFigures Zand 3. An outwardly extending lip or flange 18 at 'the upper end of thecasing 17 overlies the upper edge or mouth of the spout 12 to limit theinward movement of the casing. This flange 13 additionally functions asa Asealing, lange for sealing engagement with the resilient 'liner disc14 of cap 15.

Obviously, where the valve casing 17 is made of a substantiallyresilient material such as polyethylene, the resilient liner disc 14maybe eliminated and 'the llange 18 may function as a resilient gasketin direct engagement with the lower face of the cap 15.

Axially reciprocable through the cylindrical casing 17 is a valveassembly which comprises the spaced va'lve discs or elements 19 and 20interconnected by a valve stem 21, which is preferably integral with onesuch disck y19 and is received 'and press vfitted or cemented within asocket 22 formed on the other disc 20. Since the valve stem 21 maintainsthe discs 19 and 2t) spaced apart a distance greater than the length ofthe cylinder 17, it will be seen that these discs are capable only ofalternate movement into sealing relation with the adjacent ends ofcylinder Y17.

In order to avoid any interference with the sealing engagement betweenthe cap liner 14 and ilange 18, the outer valve element 19 -is of adiameter slightly less than the internal diameterof the cylinder 17, andis permitted to move into the upper or outer end of said cylinder intosubstantially sealing or plugging relation therewith, under `thedownward pressure exerted by the Vcap 15 as the latter is .secured onspout 12. Although in practice the disc 19 may fit rather loosely intothe cylinder 17 so as not to prevent all leakage, this will beimmaterial .in View of the coaction between the sealing ilange 18 andvcap 15.

The valve disc 20 on the other hand is preferably of a Vlarger diameterthan the interior of cylinder 17 and is ustem 21, between the valvedisc'19 and an axially directed abutment, such as may be conjointlydefined 4by the coterminous outer ends of a series of spaced axiallyextending reinforcing ribs Z4 within cylinder 17. This is best shown inFigure 3.

Thus it will be seen that immediately upon removal of the cap 15, spring23 will automatically urge the disc 2l) into seating engagement with itsadjacent end of cylinder 17, as in Figure 3, thereby preventingaccidental spillage or evaporation and consequent coagulation of thecontainer contents.

Inner valve disc 2li is formed with an annular series of guide ngers ormeans 26 which are slidably received in the cylinder 17, between theribs 24 thereof, and the outer disc 19 is similiarly formed with aseries of guide lingers 25 slidably received in its adjacent end vofcylinder 17. These lingers 25 and 26 jointly support the valve assemblyfor axial movement in cylinder 17 so that their respective valve discsand 19 will be accurately guided into sealing relation with thecylinder.

It will be noted that the spring 23 is of substantially frustro-conicalconformation, with the largest diameter coil 23 at its base, abuttingagainst the ends of ribs 24 and preferably contiguous to the inner wallof cylinder 17, in the path of movement of the fingers 25. Thus byengagement with the free ends of lingers 2S, the larger coil Z3 ofspring 23 arrests the inward movement of the valve assembly before theguide lingers 26 of inner valve disc 20 are withdrawn from the cylinder17. The remaining coils of spring 23 (other than coil 23') are ofrelatively smaller diameter'and are disposed radially inwardly of thelingers to avoid interference therewith. Thus, the smaller diameter endof spring 23 projects between the valve stem 21 and the relativelyradially spaced lingers 25 into thrusting engagement with valve disc 19.Obviously, outward movement of the valve assembly is arrested by seatingof the disc 20 against the end of cylinder 17 to prevent withdrawal ofguide fingers 25 from the cylinder. In the use of this invention, thecap 15 is lrst unscrewed and removed from the spout 12, whereupon thespring 23 automatically opens the outer valve disc 19 and seats disc 20in air tight relation against the adjoining end of cylinder 17 (Figure3). Thereafter, to dispense a measured amount of the container contents,the container is grasped and inverted, as in Figure 2, whereupon theouter disc 19 is pressed inwardly to the full extent permitted. Thus thedisc 19 closes the outer end of cylinder 17 and inner disc 20 isunseated to permit liquid to liow into and lill measuring cylinder 17,displacing the air therein upwardly into the container. Subsequentrelease of pressure on the disc 19 while the container is still invertedpermits the spring 23 to again seat the disc 20 and prevent entry ofadditional lluid into cylinder 17, while permitting the measuredquantity of liquid therein to discharge through the outer end of thecylinder.

In this application there is shown and described only the preferredembodiment of the invention. However, it is realized that the inventionis capable of other embodiments, and that its several details may bemodified in various ways, all without departing from the inventiveconcept. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be construedmerely illustrative in nature, and not exelusive.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured 'by Letters Patent is:

l. In combination with a generally cylindrical pouring spout having asealing cap threaded thereon, an open ended measuring cylinder snuglycoaxially received in said spout and having a radial external sealingflange overlying the upper end of said spout for vertically positioningsaid cylinder in the spout and for sealing engagement with said sealingcap, a valve assembly axially reciprocable through said cylinderincluding an upper valve disc normally projecting above the upper end ofsaid cylinder and of smaller diameter than said cylinder for receptiontherein responsive to sealing pressure of said cap, said valve ,assemblyincluding a lower valve disc adapted to seat against the lower end ofsaid cylinder, a valve stem extending through said cylinder andinterconnecting said discs for alternate seating relation with theirrespective ends of the cylinder, and means in the cylinder resilientlyurging said valve assembly in a direction to seat said lower disc,whereby said lower disc will automatically seat responsive to removal ofsaid sealing cap.

2. In combination with a generally cylindrical pouring spout having asealing cap removably threaded thereon, an open ended measuring cylindersnugly coaxially received in said spout and having a radial externalsealing flange overlying the upper end of said spout, a valve assemblyextending through and normally projecting axially from the upper end ofsaid spout, a valve disc carried at the lower end of said assembly formovement into seating relation with the lower end of said cylinder, thepressure of said sealing cap against said valve assembly maintainingsaid disc unseated while the cap is in seating relation with saidflange, and resilient means coacting between said cylinder and the valveassembly for automatically seating said disc upon removal of saidsealing cap.

3. ln combination with a generally cylindrical pouring spout having asealing cap removably threaded thereon, an open ended measuring cylindersnugly coaxially received in said spout, a valve assembly extendingthrough and normally projecting axially from the upper end of saidspout, a valve disc carried at the lower end of said assembly formovement into seating relation with the lower end of said cylinder, thepressure of said sealing cap against said valve assembly maintainingsaid disc unseated while the cap is in seating relation with saidilange, and resilient means coacting between said cylinder and the valveassembly for automatically seating said disc upon removal of saidsealing cap.

4. A liquid dispensing and measuring valve comprising an open endedmeasuring cylinder adapted for snug reception in the dispensing outletof a liquid container, to thus have an inner end and outer end, a valveassembly movable axially through said cylinder comprising inner andouter valve discs, astern of greater length than the cylinder extendingtherethrough and interconnecting said discs for alternate seatingrelation with their respective ends of the cylinder, each said dischaving a plurality of annularly arranged guide lingers slidably receivedin said cylinder and guiding it for movement in axial registry with thecylinder, means delning an axially directed abutment in the cylinder, acoil spring having a large diameter coil at one end seated axiallyagainst said abutment in contiguous relation to the inner wall of thecylinder, the remaining coils of said spring being of relatively smallerdiameter and said spring being compressed between the said abutment andsaid valve assembly to urge the latter outwardly of the cylinder, saidfingers of the outer disc being disposed for abutting engagement withsaid large diameter' coil to limit the inward movement of said valveassembly.

5. The combination of claim 4 in which said stem is spaced radiallyinwardly from the guide lingers of the outer disc, and the smallerdiameter coils of said spring project between said fingers and the valvestern into thrusting engagement with the outer disc,

6. The combination of claim 4 in which said cylinder is formedinteriorly with a plurality of axially extending ribs terminating in acommon radial plane Ishort of its outer end, the Outer ends of said ribsjointly defining the said axially directed abutment.

7. The combination of claim 6 in which said guide fingers of the innerdisc are received and guided between said ribs,

8. A liquid dispensing valve according to claim 4 in which said valvestern is formed of telescopically interconnected sections to facilitateassembly thereof with the said spring and said cylinder.

9. A liquid dispensing and measuring valve comprising a tubular valvecasing, a valve assembly movable through said casing comprising spacedvalve elements, a valve stem extending through the casing andinterconnecting said valve elements for alternate movement into seatingrelation with opposite ends of said casing, each said element havingguide means slidably received in the casing and guiding said element formovement in -registry with the ends of said casing, an abutment directedtoward one end of the casing, a coil spring under compression betweensaid abutment and the valve assembly, the end of said coil engaging saidabutment being dened by a coil of larger diameter than the remainingcoils of said spring, said larger diameter coil being disposed in thepath of movement of one said guide means to arrest the movement of thevalve assembly before the other said guide means is withdrawn from thevalve casing.

10. A valve comprising a tubular casing, a valve element having guidemeans slidably received in said casing and guiding said element formovement into seating relation within one end of the casing, a coilspring under compression between said valve element and said abutment,said spring having a relatively large diameter coil engaging saidabutment and the remaining coils of said spring being of relativelysmaller diameter, said large diameter coil being disposed in the path ofmovement of said guide means to limit the movement of said valve elementin one direction.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 682,855Lucas Sept. 17, 1901 2,300,546 Griest Nov. 3, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS393,223 Great Britain June 1, 1933 783,398 France July 11, 1935

